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Emiliano Martínez has admitted that he is contemplating his international future following Argentina's defeat in the FIFA World Cup Final, stating he must determine whether it is now "time to step aside."
The Aston Villa goalkeeper was a towering presence in Argentina's victory in Qatar four years ago during a dramatic penalty shootout triumph over France, and again on Sunday, where he held Spain at bay until extra time. Ferran Torres ultimately beat Martínez to deny Argentina the opportunity to make history with back-to-back World Cup titles.
Martínez is the latest Argentina star to send a message to supporters on social media following the devastating defeat, as per The Mirror.
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The 33-year-old, who has earned 67 caps for his country, has suggested that Sunday's match in New Jersey could prove to be his final international outing.
"I dreamt we'd win it again, I dreamt of bringing it back to Argentina and making history once more," Martínez wrote in a post on Instagram.
"The truth is, the pain is hard to explain. There are many things to reflect on and how to move forward, and if it's time to step aside.
"I'm so sorry, I truly tried my best to help my country and my teammates."
Argentina and Martínez were placed in a desperate situation when Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández received a red card in the closing minutes of regulation time. They ultimately succumbed to Spanish pressure in extra time, having been under siege throughout the match, failing to register a single effort on goal until the 116th minute.
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The match's conclusion was tarnished by unsightly incidents as Argentine frustration erupted, with Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes both striking out at rivals.
Their actions were criticized by Wayne Rooney, who contended that their behavior in earlier matches made their negative response hardly unexpected. The BBC analyst said: "Does it surprise you? It doesn't surprise me. We've seen this with Argentina before.
"It's just not the reaction you want. We've seen some of the reaction after knocking England out in the last round. That's just sad. If you lose a game of football, be graceful and get out of there. It's really poor from them."
